Printing machine



June16,l925. l l L542223 FA.DOLPH.

PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1924 3 sheetssneet 1 june 1 6, H525.

F. A. DOLPH PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 1l. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 D El El El 52?? YAM @diminuita Junei, 1925. 2 1,542,223 F. A. DOLPH PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1924 3 sheetsheet 5 Patented June 1e, 1925.

Vtura STATES -.ATENT FRED A.. DOLPH, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PRINTING MACHINE.

Application mcd July 11, 1924; Serial No. 725,508.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRED. A. DOLPH, a citizen of the United 4States of America, and a resident "of Washington, District of Columbia,l have invented new and useful Improvements in Printing Machines, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification:P

This invention relates to a printing machine `of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,232,246, dated July 3, 1917, and more particularly to a machine that is adapted for printing or typing newspaper bulletins, show cards, and other matter requiring the use of large size type. y

So far as I'am aware no machine has heretofore been available for printing newspaper bulletins without the necessity of setting up individual type characters by hand, assembling these characters in a form, locking them in a chase, together with all the other steps of printing that are' necessary when a cylinder or platen press is used. This method of printing large size characters is extremely expensive because of the fact that usually not more than one or two copies of the matter are required. Frequent changes, must be made in the wording of the bulletins or cards, and these changes must be quickly made.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for printing bulletins, display cards, and other advertising matter requiringthe use of large size type with the same facility and speed that results from the-use of an .ordinary typewriter.

It is frequently necessary in work of this characterl to employ type of almost any size up to two inchesand even more. A minimum number of at least forty characters is required, it being assumed that it is unnecessary to have both capital and small letters. In order to enable type of this size to be used in a machine which may be manually operable, it is necessary to provide a different form of type bar from that disclosed in my patent referred to above. An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a rotatably mounted typel bar which has the large type characters formed on two or more sides thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the type bar may be rotated and its longitudinal movement controlled in such a manner as to bring a selected 'character into printing position. A further object of the invention is to provide meansv for automatically returning a typeV b ar that has been rotated, to its normal position after a line has been printed. A further object of the invention is to provide a platen mechanism and a mounting therefor which is readily adapted for use in a machine of this character. A further object of the invention is to provide a lurality of letter keys which may be silently operated and which are so formed as to control the rotation of the type bars.

y Other objects and advantages cfthe invention will appear from the followin description taken in connection with the rawings, which form a part of this specication, and in which,

Fig. .1 is a side elevation partly in section of my improved printing machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with the parts grokeln away, of the device illustrated in Fig. 3 is a-perspective view of the universal type carriage frame;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating a portion of the mounting for the rotatable type bar and the letter keys; y Fig. 5 is a top plan viewof a portion of the rotatable type bar and its supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating aseries of three letter keys;

Fig. 7 is an end view, partly in section, of one type of means that may be employed for preventing accidental rotation of the type bars;

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the upper end of the type bar;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views, with parts broken away, illustrating thev means that may be employed for returning a rotated type bar to lts normal position; and,

Fig. ll is a diagrammatic View illustrating the arrangement of the type characters on the three sides ofthe type bar.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference' numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the elements of the machine are illustrated as being mounted on a frame that comprises a base l, upright supporting members 2, and an inclined bed plate 3. Slidably mounted on' the upper surface of plate 3 are a plurality of type bar frames 4 which are providedY with ears 5 which project upwardly at right angles from the frames and which con stitute a support for a rotatably mounted rod 6 that projects from the opposite ends of the type bar 7. Preferably thirty type bars are provided. The type bar frames 4 are normally in engagement at their lower ends with the transverse member 8 of a universal type carriage or frame (Fig. 3) that comprises side members 9, an operating rod 10 and an upper transverse member 11 which passes underneath plate 3 and which terminates at its ends in brackets 12 which. extend upwardly through slots formed in plate 3 and which support a plurality of inking rollers 13. Attached to the upper edges of brackets 12, as at 14, are flexible bands or cables 15 which pass over pulleys 16 that are rotatably mounted adjacent the topof the frame. Bands 15 carry, at their lower ends, weights 17. Secured to the opposite ends of rod 18, which supports the loosely mounted pulleys 16, are frame members 19 which .are provided adjacent their lower inner edges with a curved rib or track 19a that is engaged by rollers 20 mounted on stub axles 21 projecting from the outer faces of brackets 12. Journalled at suitable points in frame members 19 is a spool 22 for supporting a roll of paper 23, and a platen mechanism 24, of any suitable type, provided with a threaded lever 25 for regulating the throw of the platen ratchet mechanism. The paper on spool 22 is guided in its travel around the platen by means of a guide roller 26 and retaining rollers 27. The latter preferably comprise a rod 28 provided at suitable intervals with rubber disks 29 which insure that the paper will be maintained at all times in contact with the platen roller but which are so spaced along rod 28 that they will not cause smearing of the printed characters. A knife 30 is mounted on frame members 19 in close proximity to platen 24 in order that the operator may tear olf a printed section of the paper. Extending outwardly from the upper surface of plate 3 are a pair of brackets 31 which carry at their outer ends a rotatably mounted pulley 32. Secured at one end to a pin 33, projecting from the side of frame member 19, is a flexible cable 34 which passes over pulley 32 and which carries at its lower end a weight 35. An ink plate 36. provided adjacent its lower portion with a transverse opening 37, is secured to the main frame above the type bars 7.

Means are-provided for bringing selected type characters on the type bars into alignment in the center of the ink plate opening 37. As illustrated, this means comprises a plurality of letter keys 38, which are mounted in 4a keyboard frame positioned at the lower end of plate 3 and above the plane of the upper surface of type bars 7, together with a rotating head or cone 39 secured to the lower end of rod 6 of each of the type bars. The keyboard frame comprises a transverse member 40 and a pair of plates 41 which are mounted parallel to bed plate 3A and which are prol vided with a plurality of series of registering openings. Extending through these openings are the letter keys 38 that are preferably formed of a metal plate that is curved at the top and provided at its lower end with a downwardly projecting spindle or lug 42. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the spindles are arranged in series of three, the irst spindle of the series, v42, being formed at one side of the key, the second spindle, 42", being arranged at the opposite side of the next adjacent key and spindle 42c being formed in the center of the lower edge of the third key of each series. The spindle 42c is shorter in length than the spindles 42a and 42h, which latter are of equal length and are adapted to be engaged by the inclined edges 39, 9b of rotating head 39. Spindle 42c is adapted to. engage a curved projection 39C. formed at a convenient point on the upper surface of head 39. Normally, the letter keys are maintained in raised position by means of a plurality of curved springs 43 which are secured at their lower ends to the lower plate 41 and which bear at their upper ends against the upper surface of keys 38. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the letter keys are arranged in vertical rows, a row beingprovided foreach type bar 7. The number of keys in each row corresponds to the number of-type characters formed on the type bars.

Any suitable means may be provided for returning keys 38 to normal position after they have been depressed. ln the embodiment shown this means comprises a shift bar 44 provided with a plurality of laterally projecting pins 45 which are adapted to engage pins 46 formed on the. lower face of the letter keys. Bar 44 is pivoted at its lower end to a column release key 47 moulued on a transversely extending rod 48. The upper end of bar 44 is connected by a pin and slot connection to a hell crank lever 4.) pivoted to the frame as at 50. lt' desired, a har 5l may he pivoted at one cud to th.- lower arm of bell crank lever 49 and at its opposite end to a downwardly projecting arm 47 of shift key 47. One shift bar 44 is provided for each vertical column of keys and in order that these bars may be individually actuated shift key 47 is provided with an arcuate slot 52 into which extends a rib 53 formed 0n rod 48. A universal shift key 54 mounted ofn the end of shaft 4S provides means for actuating all of the bars 44 simultaneously. Automatic means ma f be provided for returning all of the letter pending application Serial Number 696,890,

filed March 4, 1924,I whereinA a leveris pivotally secured to a transverse rod corresponding to rod 48 and a lug is provided o n the side ofthe carriage for actuating this lever.

Projecting from the upper end of each of the type bars 7 is a pin 55 which, in the normal position of the type bars, extends into a beveled groove 56 (F1 s. 9 and 10) formed 4in the frame adjacent the upper end of bed plate 3. -If'desired, a leaf spring 57 may be secured to each `of the type bar frames Y 4 in 3- POSYQIIYLO engage rotating he d 39 to prevent accidental rotation Aof the ype bar.

While the type bars 7 and type bar frames 4 are moved down the upper surface of plate 3 by the force of gravity when the carriage frame is moved downwardly, means are preferably provided for positively moving the type bars downwardly. As illustrated, this means comprises a pin 4 which projects upwardly from the'u per surface of the lower end of type bar rame 4, and a plurality of spring clips 8a which arel secured in any desired manner lto the transverse member 8 of the carriage frame. When the type bars are in their normal position adjacent the upper end ofthe bed plate 3, spring clips 8 have resilient engagement with pins' 4a and positively move the type bars downwardly when the carriage frame is actuated, as is fully descrlbed in my co-pending application referred toabove.

The operation of the device is as follows The parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and it being desired to print the following line, for example, News Bulletin Number 1, the letter keys 38 corre-V sponding to the letters in the word News are depressed in the four left hand vertical columns of keys, the downward movementof the keys being limited by engagement' of pins 46 with the pins 45. The next vertical., column of keys is skipped and the remaining keys are depressed in such a manner as to form the other words of the line. Any mistake that is made in striking the keys may be corrected by actuating shift key 47 for the particular column wherein the mistake was made. vThe keys for the line being set, the operator pulls rod 1() downwardly whereupon the type carriage moves downwardly and releases the type bars 7 together with their frame members 4, which move down the bed plate3 under the force of gravity until the rotating heads 39 encounter one of the downwardly projecting spindles 42. Since the letter N, as illustrated in Fig. 11 which shows the development of the type bar, is on the right hand side of the bar, the spindle 42 for the letter key N is on the right hand Aside of the key in a position corresponding to the spindle 42" illustrated in Fig. 6. This spindle strikes the inclined edge 39b of rotating head 39 and rotates type bar 7 to bring the right hand side of Ithe bar on top. Spindle 42 also stops the downward movement of the type bar at such a point as to bring'th letter N directly in the center of the opening 37 of the ink plate 36. The letter E is also on the right handside of the type bar as is .W and these two type bars are rotated in a similar manner. The letter S, however, is positioned on the upper surface of the bar and the stem of the letter key S is located in the central plane of the key as illustrated at 42xe in Fig. 6. The fourth type bar from theleft accordingly moves downwardly vuntil t the curved projection 39c of rotating head` 39 encounters the stem 42c of the letter key 1 S. When a letter key is depressed corresponding to a character formed on the left hand side of the type bar such as U, the corresponding type bar is rotated to the right by the engagement of spindle 42a with the inclined edge 39*aL of the rotating head. As the letter characters are brought into alignment in the center of opening 37 inking rollers 13 pass over these characters and continue downwardly to the lower ortion ofthe ink plate 36. Simultaneous y with these movements rollers 20, carried by the brackets 12, move along the curved track 19a vforcing' the platen 24 into engagement with the aligned character'salld the line is printed.

When the rod 10 is released weights 17 and 35 return the parts to normal position. As the type bars are forced back into their normal position at the upper end of bed plate 3l` by the transverse member 8 of the type carriage frame, pins 55, projecting from the upper end of each type bar, engage t-he inclined surface 56, if the bar has been rotated, and rotate the bars in the opposite direction to return them to normal position. Letter keys 38 must now be returnedto their normal raised position and this operation is performed b pressing universal shift key 54 downwar ly which rotates shaft 48 and causes rib 53 to rotate the column releasel levers 47 thereby simultaneousl of the bars 44 and keys 38. lf t e automatic key shift mechanism is provided the keys wi l be automatically returned to their normal position as the carriage frame moves upwardly to the upper end of the plate 3. When the bulletin has beenprinted the paper may be cut to the desired length by the use of 'nife 30. If it is desired to print adverraising all tisin cards or show cards it will be understoo that these may be fed into the platen individually and need not be carried on the paper spool 22. Type characters formed on the bars 7 are illustrated as being concave in order that they may conform to the curvature of platen 24 thus insuring al clean impression.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is capableof a variety of' mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing machine, the vcombination of a frame, type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation in said frame, means for reciprocating said type bars, and a keyboard including a plurality of letter keys, each of said keys being adapted to control the rotation and the longitudinal movement of one of said bars.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of rotatable type bars' having type characters formed on two or more sides thereof, means for reciprocating said bars, and means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars including a plurality of depressible keysand a rotating cone rigidly secured to each of said bars.

3. A machine of the class described comrising a frame, a bed plate carried by said rame, a type bar carrier shdably mounted on said ybed plate, a type bar rotatably mounted on said carrier, means for reciprocating said bars, and means for controlling the reciprocation and rotation of said bars.

4. A type bar comprising a rectangular member, a plurality of concave type charac'- ters formed on two or more sides of said member, and a rotating head having a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces secured to said member.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, platen mechanism pivoted thereto, a type carriage slidably mounted on said frame, means mounted on said carriage and having engagement with said platen mechanism for actuating the latter, a plurality of rotatable type bars slidably mounted on said frame, and means for selectively rotating and limiting the longitudinal movement of said type bars.

6. `A,machine of the class described comprising a frame, a platen mechanism pivoted thereto, a type carriage slidably mounted on said frame, means mounted on said carriage and having engagement with said platen mechanism for actuating the latter, a plurality of.rotatable ty e bars slidably mounted on said frame, a p urality of ke s for selectively rotating and limiting the ongitudial movement of said type bars, said keys being mesma provided with downwardly projecting stems, means for resiliently maintainmg said keys in raised position, and means for returning said'keys from depressed position to .raised position.

7. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation on said frame, means including a type carriage frame controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars, and means for returning bars that have been selectively rotated to normal position.

8. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation on said frame, means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars, and means energized by the actuationA of said first named means for returning the bars to normal position.

9. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, a plurality of type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation on l'said frame means normally preventing movement of said bars,`and for returning said bars to normal position, a platen mechanism operatively connected to said means, and means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars comprising a plurality of letter keys and a rotating headsecured to each of said bars.

10. .In a printing machine, the combination ofa `frame, a plurality of type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation on said: frame, means normally preventing movement of said bars, and for returning said bars to normal position, a platen mechanism operatively connected to said means, and means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars comprising a plurality of letter keys provided with spindles nd a rotating head secured to each of said ars.

11. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, a plurality of type bars mounted for rotation and reciprocation on said frame, means normally preventing movement of said bars, and for returning said bars to normal position, a platen mechanism operatively connected to said means, and means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of said bars comprising a plurality of letter keys arranged in vertical columns, the keys 1n each column being arranged in series of three, and a rotating head secured to each of said bars.

12. A device of the character described comprising a frame, type bars mounted for reciprocation and rotation in said frame, a platen ivoted tosaid frame, and common means or moving said platen and type bars into printing engagement.

13. A devlce of the class described comrising a frame, a bed plate carried b the rame, a plurality of type bars sli ably mounted on said plate, platen mechanism carried by the frame, a plurality of type bars slidably mounted on said bed plate, a plurality of concave type characters formed on two or more sides of said bars, the characters on one side of said bar being arranged in overlapping position relative to the characters on the adjacent side of said bar, a platen mechanism movably secured 'to said frame,`

a plurality of letter keys adapted to be moved into engagement with said bars lfor rotating the latter, and means forsimultaneously returning each of said keys to normal position.

16. A device of the 'character described comprising a frame, type bars mounted for reciprocation and rotation in said frame, a platen pivoted to said `frame, manually operable means for controlling the Arotation and reciprocation of' said bars, and common means for movingsaid platen and bars into printing engagement.

17. A device of the character described comprisinga main frame, type bars mounted for reciprocation. and rotation in said frame an auxiliary frame pivoted to said main frame, `a platen" carried b v said auxiliary frame, means for controlling the rotation and reciprocation of. said type. bars, and means for simultaneously imparting longitudinal movement to said bars and pivotal movement to said auxiliary frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FRED A. DOLPH. 

